The UK Foreign Office has issued a blistering condemnation of South Africa’s latest anti-immigration measure: a machete-wielding vigilante-style deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country or face violent consequences. Sources confirm that British diplomats in Pretoria have been scrambled to protect UK nationals caught in the crossfire, as the South African government’s rhetoric fuels a wave of xenophobic attacks.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced a 30-day ultimatum on Monday, ordering all illegal foreigners to voluntarily depart or be “forcefully removed.” The statement was followed by videos circulating on social media showing masked men armed with machetes patrolling townships in Johannesburg, threatening to “cleanse” the streets. One video, verified by this newspaper, shows a group dragging a man from a shack while shouting anti-foreigner slurs.
“The United Kingdom is deeply alarmed by reports of vigilante violence and the use of inflammatory language by South African authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesperson told me in a late-night briefing. “We urge the South African government to uphold the rule of law and protect all individuals within its borders, regardless of nationality. We are in direct contact with local authorities to ensure the safety of British citizens.”
The crisis comes as South Africa grapples with a 32% unemployment rate and crumbling infrastructure, with migrants from Zimbabwe, Somalia, and elsewhere often scapegoated for the country’s woes. But the new deadline has drawn international criticism, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warning that forced returns without due process could trigger a humanitarian disaster.
Documents obtained by this newspaper reveal that the UK Foreign Office had privately warned South Africa against such measures as early as last month. A leaked diplomatic cable dated 3 October notes that “the use of machetes and other weapons by informal groups is a red line that must not be crossed.” The cable also expresses concern that the deadline could destabilise the entire region, with neighbouring countries already bracing for an influx of up to 200,000 returnees.
On the ground in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, the fear is palpable. “They came with pangas (machetes) last night, smashing windows and calling us dogs,” said a Zimbabwean man who gave his name only as Tafadzwa. “I don’t know where to go. My children were born here.” The South African Police Service has promised to deploy additional officers to hotspots, but residents say the police are complicit. A video obtained exclusively by this outlet shows officers standing by as a mob beats a man outside a shop.
Meanwhile, the South African Chamber of Commerce has warned that the crackdown could cost the economy billions, as industries reliant on migrant labour face disruption. But the government appears undeterred. “We are cleaning our house,” Motsoaledi said in a press conference today. “No country can survive with open borders.”
The UK Foreign Office has advised all British nationals in South Africa to avoid non-essential travel to high-risk areas and to register with the embassy. For now, the countdown continues: 27 days until the deadline expires. And with machetes in the hands of those who feel the state has given them permission, the bloodshed may be just beginning.
